The NHL's first major realignment since 1998-99 took one step closer to reality when the NHL Players' Association gave its blessing.

That is key because 14 months ago, a slightly different realignment setup fell through when the union didn't sign off by the league's deadline.

As with the old plan, the league will go from the current six-division alignment to four and the Winnipeg Jets would move to the Western Conference. The difference this time is that the Detroit Red Wings and the Columbus Blue Jackets would move to the Eastern Conference.

"Our next step will be to bring the proposed plan for realignment to the NHL board of governors for its consideration," deputy commissioner Bill Daly said. "We will update the status of the process as future developments warrant."

Realignment became necessary when the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg in 2011. The Jets have been playing in the Southeast Division this season and last.

Under the playoff format, the top three teams from each division would make the playoffs. So would the next best two teams from each conference. Under the rejected format, the top four teams from each division made the playoffs.

Even with the new format, there is an uneven chance of making the playoffs because the Eastern Conference has 16 teams and the West has 14. That was a concern of the NHLPA in 2012.

But NHLPA executive director Donald Fehr said that the new alignment would be re-examined after the 2014-15 season, giving everyone two seasons to see how it works.

The move of the Red Wings and Blue Jackets is a selling point to those teams because they had some of the worst travel and road TV times as the lone Eastern Time Zone teams in the Western Conference. The Red Wings can also renew their rivalry with Original Six teams Montreal, Toronto and Boston, though they would play the Chicago Blackhawks fewer times.

The Stars also benefit because they move into a division with other Central Time teams.